Upper Marlboro, MD – July 23, 2010 – The Capital Challenge Horse Show is in its 17th year of competition, and this year’s show will feature two challenge cup divisions for jumpers. The North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup will feature two rounds with $5,000 and $10,000 in prize money. The Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper Challenge Cup, also two rounds, will award $2,000 and $10,000 in prize money. This year’s show starts with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com, on October 2-3, and the horse show will continue on October 4-10.
The North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup will only be two rounds this year. The first round is on Friday, October 8, while the final round is on Saturday evening, October 9. The first round is a speed class with $5,000 in prize money with fences at 1.35m. The final round will run in reverse order with jumps set at 1.40m, and $10,000 in prize money will be given in the second round. The overall winner will receive the ARIAT Congressional Cup and The Remy Martin Perpetual Trophy, donated by Rolling Acres & Melanie Wright.
Last year’s winners Tim Hooker and Sirius 127
Past Challenge Cup winner Tracey Weinberg feels that the move to a two-round format for the Challenge Cup will be beneficial. “While I loved the format they had because it was all about consistency and dealing with the pressure of leading through three rounds, (this two-round format) is protective of the horse,” she said. “My horses got tired on the third day. Knowing most people will go on to other indoors, it does save your horse a bit, and that’s important.”
Weinberg believes that competing in the jumper classes at Capital Challenge is the “perfect situation” for people who also want to show at the other indoor shows in the fall. “Capital Challenge provides a beautiful schooling area and a lot of space to ride and prepare,” she explained. “For people’s first indoor experience of the year, you’ve got all the room to properly set up your horses, and the footing in the indoor is really nice.”
Weinberg, who will be back at Capital Challenge this year to try and win again, loves the feeling of the show. She pointed out, “Capital Challenge does it as well as anybody in the country. They do a beautiful job and dress the place up. They make it very special for the exhibitor with a hospitality area, daily newsletters so you know what happened the day before, and more. There is also a great buzz, and it has a lot of atmosphere, from a participant’s standpoint. People try to do really well at the show. You see the best of the best in the country. It’s a perfect prep from pressure, competition, and venue standpoints.”
The first Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper class will be held on Wednesday, October 6, and will be run in accordance to Zone 3 specifications. The class will award $2,000 in prize money and the fences will be set at 1.10m.
The $10,000 Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper Challenge Cup will be on Thursday evening, October 7. Riders will return in reverse order from the first class standings, and jumps will be set at 1.15m.
Please join us at the Capital Challenge Horse Show for exciting competition and to see some of the nation’s top horses and riders. As always, if you can’t attend, remember you can log on to www.equestriansport.tv to see all the action live.
In its 17th year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, this year’s show will take place on October 2-10. Top competitions include the ARIAT National Adult Medal Finals and the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, along with the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. In addition to these prestigious equitation events, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will once again host the World Champion Hunter Rider Finals and will assemble the country’s best horses and riders to compete in junior, amateur, and professional hunter classes. For more information, please visit www.capitalchallenge.org or visit the Capital Challenge Horse Show page on Facebook!
Photo Credit: Tim Hooker and Sirius 127 won the North American Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Challenge Cup at last year’s Capital Challenge Horse Show. Photo © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.